NEW YORK, 8:37 AM, SAT MAY 17 | 42 POSTS IN THE LAST 24 HOURS | tips@gizmodo.com | SUBMIT A TIP | RSS
UK | FR | NL | IT | DE | ES | JP | AU

Grundig Eton FR1000 Voicelink Survival Radio Is Gorgeous

Awesome: The Eton FR1000 Voicelink is maybe one of the most pornograpic survival radios I've ever seen, but functionally so. IT has AM/FM/NOAA Weather/2-Way GMRS Radio. And a Flashlight, siren, and Cellphone charger. It runs off of 4AAs, but has a hand crank. The design seems superfluous, but those cutouts actually protect the knobs. There's a large handle on the back. If I were to die stranded in the wilderness, I might be slightly less upset clutching one of these beautiful machines. $150.
The Catch: No word on water resistance, and the recessed knobs seem hard to turn with gloves on.

8:19 PM on Sat Jan 5 2008
By Brian Lam
3,454 views
12 comments

Comments

  • How much? It's pretty.

  • Image of strider_mt2k strider_mt2k at 08:22 PM on 01/05/08 *

    I like the styling, but I'd like to check one out firsthand and see what that synthesized tuner and backlighting do to the battery life and if it does well.

  • looks too nice to sit unused in my earthquake kit. hmmm

  • @kingclip: $150 It says in the article. Read much?

  • Without my "crystal clear digital" quality of HD-radio, I hardly call it survival.

  • Restoration Hardware had these online already, but they did not last long before selling out!

  • Why can't they make these damn wind up radios with Aux in? I wanted a Eton 350 for when I go backpacking or for when I need to entertain in a post-apocalyptic future. Eton FR350 (if it had Aux in) + Solio Solar USB solar charger + MP3 Player of choice = the best damn time you can have in the wilderness. Guess I could get a FM transmitter....

  • buy one...you'll be one of the coolest guys on the block after a zombie invasion...this is a pretty cool piece of kit though

  • The product card does say "water resistant," but the manual tells a different story:

    "• Do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture.
    • Do not submerge or expose for extended period to water.
    • Protect from high humidity and rain.
    • Only operate within specified temperature range (0 °C to 40 °C).
    • Unplug immediately if liquid has been spilled or object have fallen into the
    apparatus.
    • Clean only with a dry cloth. Do not use detergents or chemical solvents as this might damage the finish."

    It seems this is a put-it-in-your-closet-in-case-of-an-earthquake "survival" radio.

  • @unfletch: Also, I won't feel decadent using it outside of emergencies.

    Seriously, Grundig need to get their industrial designers onto some more CE products. This and their shortwave radio [gizmodo.com] are absolutely gorgeous.

  • Sorry, Brian, but the word "gorgeous" is trademarked by Steve Jobs, who uses the word constantly, especially in application to computer displays. Apple's lawyers will be contacting you.

  • I had one of the previous models and the crank broke in about a month. No, I am not Ted Kazinsky, and I have electricity. It was the plastic sprocket on the inside, a handful of the teeth busted off rendering the crank useless. Cheap nylon parts and i can't imagine I will be able to find a replacement gear.

Start a discussion:

Reply by Email

Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.